[ LETTER ]

State Targets Wrong People in Efforts to Balance Its Budget

Published: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

The decision by the state Supreme Court on public-pension funding is disheartening, and comments by members of the Republican Legislature were disingenuous. The statements by state Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville ("Florida taxpayers can no longer bear the full cost of this benefit."), House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel ("a victory for taxpayers") and State Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice ("They should be glad they even have a pension plan they can contribute to") are incredulous.

Are they insinuating that public employees aren't taxpayers and contribute nothing to our pension? Ridiculous. I challenge these three to mail me an itemized list of what my sales and homeowners' taxes are spent on. The real rub here is that the Legislature is exempt from this 3 percent pay cut and that the money collected is not going to our pension fund but the general fund.

These same legislators were very vocal in opposition to raising taxes on the top 2 percent but have no qualms in taking 3 percent from employees who make less than $25,000. This 3 percent pay cut will decrease economic stimulus in Polk by $15 million and $1 billion in the state yearly.

This Republican governing body wouldn't do away with any of the 247 sales tax exemptions and are trying to balance the budget on the backs of the 1 million hard-working public employees.

So, when Gov. Rick Scott says that the opinion of the court "supports our efforts to lower the cost of living for Florida families," he must mean the top 2 percent he is a part of.

<p>The decision by the state Supreme Court on public-pension funding is disheartening, and comments by members of the Republican Legislature were disingenuous. The statements by state Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville ("Florida taxpayers can no longer bear the full cost of this benefit."), House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel ("a victory for taxpayers") and State Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice ("They should be glad they even have a pension plan they can contribute to") are incredulous.</p><p>Are they insinuating that public employees aren't taxpayers and contribute nothing to our pension? Ridiculous. I challenge these three to mail me an itemized list of what my sales and homeowners' taxes are spent on. The real rub here is that the Legislature is exempt from this 3 percent pay cut and that the money collected is not going to our pension fund but the general fund.</p><p>These same legislators were very vocal in opposition to raising taxes on the top 2 percent but have no qualms in taking 3 percent from employees who make less than $25,000. This 3 percent pay cut will decrease economic stimulus in Polk by $15 million and $1 billion in the state yearly.</p><p>This Republican governing body wouldn't do away with any of the 247 sales tax exemptions and are trying to balance the budget on the backs of the 1 million hard-working public employees.</p><p>So, when Gov. Rick Scott says that the opinion of the court "supports our efforts to lower the cost of living for Florida families," he must mean the top 2 percent he is a part of.</p><p>EDWARD M. HOWARTH JR.</p><p>Bartow</p>